Dish exceeds forecast

Dish Network reported better than forecast quarterly revenue and profit as it added more per pay-TV subscriber and broadband Internet users.

The second-largest US satellite TV company by revenue reported that its average revenue per pay-TV user rose to $87.91 (€80.90) in the second quarter from $84.15, a year earlier.

However, net subscriber losses in the business rose to about 81,000 from 44,000 and gross new activations fell to 638,000 from 656,000. Dish has been losing pay-TV subscribers as rivals offer discounts to both new and existing subscribers.

The company launched a cheaper Sling TV streaming service in January to lure young viewers away from their cable or satellite subscriptions.

Dish said it added 4,000 broadband Internet subscribers in the quarter, taking the total to about 595,000.

Net income attributable to Dish rose to $324.4 million in the quarter ended June 30 from $213.3 million a year earlier. Total revenue increased 3.8 percent to $3.83 billion.